Browns notes: Rubin steps in at nose tackle

Ahtyba Rubin, the only player from the 2008 draft still contributing for the Browns, is the new starter at nose tackle now that Shaun Rogers is out for the season with injuries to his left leg and ankle.

No one expects Rubin to be Rogers. Rogers' season ends with 36 tackles and two sacks. Rubin has 24 tackles.

"You can't put into words what it means to lose Shaun," defensive back Mike Adams said. "He's one of a kind. He gets triple-teamed or double-teamed every play."

Rogers is listed at 350 pounds. Rubin, a sixth-round pick from Iowa State last year, weighs 320 pounds. He made 20 tackles in 12 games last season.

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"They're big shoes to fill," Rubin said.

"I've learned from Shaun. He's showed me how to recognize where the run's coming from and recognize formations. He's helped me get confidence in myself and that I can play in this league. I'm going to try to step up and be a force."

Rubin was drafted to be Rogers' backup. He was one of five players drafted by the Browns in 2008.

Seventh-round pick Alex Hall is still on the roster, but he has become invisible.

He has three tackles and a fumble recovery from scrimmage and two special teams tackles.

Williams wants to play

Corey Williams is hoping he could play some nose tackle behind Rubin. He had seven sacks in 2006 and seven more in 2007 playing defensive tackle in Green Bay.

He has been an end since the Browns traded for him and would be happy to play inside again.

"I hate that it had to come down to an injury in order for me to play more, but it is what it is," Williams said.

"I'm going to keep working hard and be prepared and be ready to play. A lot of guys who weren't expecting to play are going to be asked to play a lot this year. It's up to them to get themselves ready. I don't think that will be a problem because a lot of the guys are excited about playing."

Williams has 16 tackles and two sacks this season.

Mangini on Weis

Now that Charlie Weis has been fired by Notre Dame, the natural question is would the Browns have any interest in him? Weis coached Brady Quinn in 2005 and 2006 at Notre Dame.

Weis was the offensive coordinator and Browns coach Eric Mangini was the secondary coach in New England when the Patriots won three Super Bowls in the first half of this decade.

"I like Charlie," Mangini said. "I've always liked Charlie. I worked with him in New York and then again in New England. We've been friendly and talked since he's been at Notre Dame. He's a really good football coach, I respect him a lot."

Peter King of SI.com wrote before Weis was officially fired: "Where will Weis land once he's fired by Notre Dame? Well, eliminate Cleveland in the increasingly unlikely event Eric Mangini keeps his job. Weis and Mangini coached together in New England but are not pals."

Blackout coming

Unless a hoard of ticket buyers suddenly get the urge to watch Sunday's matchup between the Browns and Chargers at Cleveland Browns Stadium, the game will be blacked out.

Browns spokesman Neil Gulkis said "several thousand" tickets remain.

The game must be sold out 72 hours before kickoff, which is 4 p.m. Thursday.

It would the first blackout of an NFL game in Cleveland since 1995.

The game Nov. 16 between the Browns and Ravens was in danger of not being sold out in time to avoid the blackout, but WJW, the Browns and sponsors bought the remaining tickets and distributed them to charities.

Browns officials are meeting today to see what can be done to avoid a blackout Sunday.

All 84 home games since the rebirth of the Browns in 1999 have been sold out.